Chester Zoo is to close one of its popular animal exhibits after more than 70 years.
That’s right, it looks like it’s officially the end of an era… as, according to reports by sources such as Liverpool Echo and the MEN, the UK’s biggest charity zoo – which is home to more than 31,000 animals living across 128 acres of zoological gardens – is set to close its beloved aquarium building for good after it’s been open to the public for more than seven decades.
The aquarium building at the Cheshire-based attraction dates all the way back to 1952, but due to what has been described as “advancements in building methods” and a number of other factors, the site appears to no longer be suitable.
The zoo’s aquarium is currently home to seahorses, brittle stars, blind fish, pipefish, anemone, clownfish, and more, as well as some other forms of “unique wildlife” like coral.
Chester Zoo is closing one of its beloved animal exhibits after 70 years / Credit: Chester Zoo
But Liverpool Echo says it understands these creatures will “find new habitats to flourish in” when the building closes its doors in 2026.
The publication says Chester Zoo members have been informed of the closure decision via letter.
The letter read: “With such advancements in building methods, technology and requirements for modern zoos, our expert team of structural engineers agree that from 2026, our aquatic species in the aquarium will be finding new habitats to flourish in, under the care of our dedicated aquatic team.”
The zoo says the closure is also due to the fact that, for the last 25 years, it has been developing “other aquatic habitats” throughout the zoo and teaming them with many different species.
The popular aquarium building dates all the way back to 1952 / Credit: Chester Zoo
The news that Chester Zoo is closing its aquarium building comes after the family-favourite attraction announced last month that its exclusive ‘after hours’ evenings are returning by popular demand on selected dates this summer, and they’ll be giving visitors the chance to see all the animals in “a whole new light”.
Tickets to the beloved events are now on sale, and they’re evening running at 50% cheaper than they do during the day.
Drinks prices for Manchester Oasis gigs announced – and you’ll be pleasantly surprised
Daisy Jackson
The prices of drinks at Heaton Park for the five huge Manchester Oasis shows have been released in advance.
With the Gallagher brothers reuniting on stage in their hometown for the first time this weekend (and then again next week), it’s a huge moment for our city.
Those lucky enough to snag tickets have already forked out a small fortune to witness this moment in history (still scarred from the dynamic pricing debacle).
And most of us were probably bracing to spend another small fortune on beers at the Oasis Manchester gigs.
But you might be pleasantly surprised at the drinks prices up at Heaton Park for Oasis Live ’25.
It’s now been confirmed that pints of lager and cider will be just £6.50.
Before you turn your nose up, remember that pints at our two arenas – the AO Arena and Co-op Live are now sitting around the £9 mark.
Prices for other drinks, like wine and spirits, we’ll have to wait until Friday to see.
Heaton Park will also be the home of the ‘largest beer garden’ and the longest bars in the city for the Oasis reunion.
With a major heatwave predicted for the first shows, fans are being encouraged to stay hydrated (on WATER, not beer, please).
Ticket-holders will be allowed to bring a sealed bottle of water up to 500ml in with you, but it must be collapsible plastic.
Solid plastic and metal containers will be rejected on safety grounds.
There’s a free water point on site where you can fill up your bottles again.
Oasis will perform at Heaton Park in Manchester on 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 July.
Dates announced as resident doctors prepare to stage strikes this month
Emily Sergeant
Resident doctors in England have voted to stage strike action over pay, and the dates for the industrial action have now been confirmed.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says doctors have ‘spoken clearly’ after the results of a vote published today revealed that 90% of resident doctors have voted in favour of a potential return to industrial action.
It comes after the ballot – which ran from 27 May until 7 July – saw a turnout of 55% members, with almost 30,000 (29,741) votes cast.
26,766 of those votes endorsed the use of strike action as part of efforts to restore pay, while just under 3,000 voted against it.
The result means that resident doctors have now secured a fresh mandate to stage industrial action when they choose from now until January 2026.
BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Melissa Ryan and Ross Nieuwoudt, said that, while no doctor took the possibility of striking lightly, a clear majority of members felt that they had ‘no other choice’ given the ongoing failures to restore pay.
They added that Health Secretary Wes Streeting has the power to ‘make the right decision’ on pay, and urged the Government to return to negotiations ‘as soon as possible’.
It’s now been confirmed that resident doctors will stage a full walk out from 7am on Friday 25 July until 7am on Wednesday 30 July.
These upcoming strikes come after resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors, until 2024 – in England participated in an unprecedented 11 rounds of strike action after negotiations with the previous Conservative Government over restoring pay repeatedly stalled.
“Doctors have spoken and spoken clearly – they won’t accept that they are worth a fifth less than they were in 2008,” the committee co-chairs said. “Our pay may have declined but our will to fight remains strong.
“Doctors don’t take industrial action lightly, but they know it is preferable to watching their profession wither away.
“The next move is the Government’s – will it repeat the mistakes of its predecessor? Or will it do the right thing and negotiate a path to full pay restoration and the restoration of doctors’ confidence in our profession’s future?”
Emily Sergeant -
12th June 2024 
